VIENNA, June 22 — Austria’s government plans to expand the deportation of foreign offenders and ease pressure on the country’s overcrowded prison system under a reform package expected to be approved by the cabinet this week, according to Austrian Press Agency.
The proposal would allow certain foreign nationals who are subject to a valid entry or residence ban to be transferred to their home countries after serving the minimum required portion of their sentence, even without their consent. Under current rules, such transfers are often blocked if the prisoner objects.
The government said the measure, known as “prison in the homeland,” could reduce the population of Austrian prisons by about 300 inmates annually.
The new rules would not apply to offenders convicted of serious violent crimes, sexual offenses or terrorism-related crimes. Authorities said 208 prisoner transfers were carried out in 2024, the highest number recorded under the program.
The reform package also includes measures aimed at reducing repeat offending. Individuals sentenced to up to two years in prison would be allowed to delay the start of their sentence for more than one year if they are completing vocational training or an apprenticeship.
The changes are expected to take effect in November if approved.
Justice Minister Anna Sporrer said Austria’s prisons urgently require relief measures, arguing that pressure on prison staff has reached an unsustainable level and could undermine public safety over time.
Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said the reform would make it possible to deport foreign offenders who are in Austria illegally after they have served half of their prison sentence, describing the move as an important step in strengthening security.
Chancellor Christian Stocker said the rule of law must be enforced consistently and that those who violate Austria’s laws should face the consequences of their actions.
NEOS parliamentary leader Yannick Shetty said the government was determined to take a firm stance toward people who have no legal right to remain in Austria or who abuse that right.
